U.S. patent number 9,523,511 [Application Number 14/813,194] was granted by the patent office on 2016-12-20 for indoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. Invention is credited to Takuya Goto, Hisanori Ikeda, Katsuya Ishigami, Masato Ishikawa, Shinji Kawai, Masahide Kinami, Youhei Koyanagi, Yosuke Naito, Akimoto Suzuki.
United States Patent |
9,523,511 |
Ikeda , et al. |
December 20, 2016 |
Indoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus
Abstract
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a
housing having a wall extending in a horizontal direction, and a
front panel covering at least a part of a front side of the wall.
On a region of the wall covered by the front panel, an opening
leading to a front end of a space in which a network repeater for
wirelessly communicating with a network is to be contained is
formed. The opening is configured to be exposed in a state in which
a whole or a part of the front panel is removed or opened.
Inventors: |
Ikeda; Hisanori (Tokyo,
JP), Ishikawa; Masato (Tokyo, JP), Suzuki;
Akimoto (Tokyo, JP), Kinami; Masahide (Tokyo,
JP), Koyanagi; Youhei (Tokyo, JP), Goto;
Takuya (Tokyo, JP), Ishigami; Katsuya (Tokyo,
JP), Kawai; Shinji (Tokyo, JP), Naito;
Yosuke (Tokyo, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation |
Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
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Assignee: |
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
(Tokyo, JP)
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Family
ID: |
53794066 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/813,194 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20160040901 A1 |
Feb 11, 2016 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 6, 2014 [JP] |
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2014-160039 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F
11/30 (20180101); F24F 13/20 (20130101); H04L
12/2838 (20130101); F24F 1/0073 (20190201); H04Q
9/00 (20130101); F24F 11/62 (20180101); H04Q
1/023 (20130101); F24F 2013/207 (20130101); H04L
2012/285 (20130101); G08C 2201/42 (20130101); H04L
2012/2841 (20130101); F24F 11/56 (20180101); F24F
11/58 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04B
3/36 (20060101); H04Q 9/00 (20060101); F24F
11/00 (20060101); F24F 1/00 (20110101); F24F
13/20 (20060101); H04L 12/28 (20060101); H04Q
1/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/7,41.1,41.2,358
;340/5.5,5.53,3.54 ;700/90,282,276 ;709/229,224 ;236/51
;62/180,228.1,160,324.6,201,126,259.2,407,127,125 ;165/62 ;370/401
;345/173,156 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1533576 |
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May 2005 |
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EP |
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EP 1533576 |
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Aug 2006 |
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GB |
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2008-004975 |
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Jan 2008 |
|
JP |
|
WO 2014020880 |
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Feb 2014 |
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JP |
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WO 2014024443 |
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Feb 2014 |
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JP |
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WO 2014024444 |
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Feb 2014 |
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JP |
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EP2881676 |
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Oct 2015 |
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JP |
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2014/020880 |
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Feb 2014 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Extended European Search Report issued Dec. 11, 2015 in the
corresponding EP application No. 15179383.3. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Trinh; Tan H
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Posz Law Group, PLC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus comprising: a
housing having a wall extending in a horizontal direction; and a
front panel, wherein the front panel is installed on a front side
of the housing and covers at least a part of a front side of the
wall, in the indoor unit, in a region of the wall covered by the
front panel, an opening leading to a front end of a space in which
a network repeater for wirelessly communicating with a network is
to be contained is formed in such a manner that, on a rear side of
the wall, a network repeater compartment with a front side open is
formed, that the opening of the wall is formed at a position faced
with an opening of the network repeater compartment, that the
network repeater is to be contained in the space inside the network
repeater compartment, and that the network repeater can be
incorporated in the indoor unit, and the opening in the wall being
configured to be exposed in a state in which a whole or a part of
the front panel is removed or opened, so that the network repeater
incorporated in the indoor unit can be taken out of the indoor
unit.
2. The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
further comprising a control board, and the network repeater
contained in the space and configured to relay the control board
and the network.
3. The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 2,
wherein the control board and the network repeater are connected by
a cable disposed on a rear side of the wall, and the cable has a
length sufficient for drawing out the network repeater contained in
the space through the opening.
4. The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 3,
wherein a middle portion of the cable is fixed by a cable fixing
member, and a portion of the cable between the middle portion and
the network repeater has a length sufficient for drawing out the
network repeater contained in the space through the opening.
5. The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein a cutout is formed in each of regions facing each other on
a peripheral edge of the opening.
6. The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the network repeater performs Wi-Fi communication with the
network.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an
air-conditioning apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
With spread of HEMS (Home Energy Management System), a smart grid,
and other technologies, a demand for energy management of an
air-conditioning apparatus has been increasing recently. Moreover,
demands for central management control for managing the
air-conditioning apparatus as well as other devices, remote
operation for operating the air-conditioning apparatus from a
remote location such as outside a house, and other conveniences
have been increasing.
To meet these demands, an indoor unit of an air-conditioning
apparatus provided with a network repeater for wirelessly
communicating with a network has been proposed. The network
repeater is connected to a control board incorporated in the indoor
unit of the air-conditioning apparatus. Signals used for energy
management of the air-conditioning apparatus, central management
control, remote operation or another use are transmitted to and
received from the network via the network repeater. Typically, the
network repeater is provided with an indication lamp for indicating
a communication state, an error state or another state. Also, the
network repeater is typically provided with switches for switching
on and off of wireless communication, recovering from an error, and
other operations. The network repeater is provided on a wall
surface in the vicinity of the indoor unit of the air-conditioning
apparatus, for example (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2008-4975 (FIG. 7, etc.)
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
Some of the indication lamps provided on the network repeater may
be normally lit or may flash, and when such a network repeater is
installed in a conspicuous place, a user might feel uncomfortable.
Moreover, since the network repeater itself is exposed, the user
might feel that interior aesthetics of a room may be damaged. The
network repeater can be incorporated in the indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus to improve the interior aesthetics. In
such a case, however, the user can no longer visually check the
communication state, the error state, and other states, or can no
longer operate the switches, for example, and functionality is
lowered. In other words, the conventional indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus cannot improve the interior aesthetics
while ensuring the functionality.
The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned
problems and is to obtain an indoor unit of an air-conditioning
apparatus capable of improving the interior aesthetics while
ensuring the functionality.
Solution to Problem
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to the
present invention includes a housing having a wall extending in a
horizontal direction, and a front panel covering at least a part of
a front side of the wall. An opening leading to a front end of a
space in which a network repeater for wirelessly communicating with
a network is to be contained is formed on a region of the wall
covered by the front panel, and the opening is configured to be
exposed in a state in which a whole or a part of the front panel is
removed or opened.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
In the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
the present invention, the opening leading to the front end of the
space in which the network repeater for wirelessly communicating
with the network is contained is formed on the region covered with
the front panel of the wall of the housing, and the opening is
exposed in the state in which the whole of or a part of the front
panel is removed or open. Thus, the network repeater can be
incorporated in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus
to improve the interior aesthetics. Moreover, because the network
repeater incorporated in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning
apparatus can be taken out of the indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus and subjected to visual check and
operations as necessary, the functionality can be ensured.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit of an
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a network repeater to be contained in the
indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention in a state in which a front panel is removed.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention at an opening formed on a wall of a housing.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention in a state in which the front panel and the wall of the
housing are removed.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an essential part of the indoor
unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of
the present invention in a state in which the front panel, the wall
of the housing, and a control board compartment cover of an
electrical component compartment member are removed.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the essential part of the indoor
unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of
the present invention in a state in which the front panel, the wall
of the housing, and the control board compartment cover for the
electrical component compartment member are removed.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the essential part of the indoor
unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of
the present invention in a state in which the front panel is
removed.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to the
present invention will be described below by using the
drawings.
Configurations and other specifications described below are only an
example, and the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus
according to the present invention is not limited to such
configurations and other specifications. In each figure, reference
signs are omitted as appropriate for duplicated or similar members
or portions.
Embodiment 1
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 will be described.
<Configuration of Indoor Unit of Air-Conditioning
Apparatus>
A configuration of the indoor unit of the air-conditioning
apparatus according to Embodiment 1 will be described.
(Entire Configuration)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of
the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the
present invention.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the indoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus includes a base 1, a fan 2, a heat
exchanger 3, a drain pan assembly 4, a filter automatic cleaning
unit 5, an electrical component compartment member 6, a housing 7,
and a front panel 8 (design panel). The drain pan assembly 4 has a
vertical wind direction adjustment plate 4a.
On the base 1, the fan 2, the heat exchanger 3, and the drain pan
assembly 4 on which the electrical component compartment member 6
is installed are installed. Moreover, on the base 1, the housing 7
on which the filter automatic cleaning unit 5 is installed is
installed by a screw or the like. The housing 7 has a wall 21
extending in a horizontal direction. The wall 21 can be removed
from the housing 7. The front panel 8 is installed on a front side
of the housing 7, and a front side of the wall 21 is covered by the
front panel 8. A user can attach and remove the front panel 8.
When the fan 2 is driven, an indoor air above the indoor unit 100
of the air-conditioning apparatus is suctioned through a filter
installed on the filter automatic cleaning unit 5, is changed to a
cold air, a warm air or the like by heat exchange in the heat
exchanger 3, and the cold air, the warm air or the like passes
through the vertical wind direction adjustment plate 4a of the
drain pan assembly 4 and is blown out into a room. The vertical
wind direction adjustment plate 4a rotationally moves, and adjusts
a vertical wind direction of the air blown out of the indoor unit
100 of the air-conditioning apparatus.
(Configuration of Network Repeater)
A configuration of a network repeater contained in the indoor unit
of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 will be
described.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the network repeater to be contained in
the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus, the
network repeater 9 as illustrated in FIG. 3 is contained. The
network repeater 9 is connected to a control board 10, which will
be described later, via a cable 9a and wirelessly communicates with
a network such as LAN and WAN. For example, the network repeater 9
performs Wi-Fi communication with the network such as LAN and
WAN.
On the network repeater 9, a plurality of indication lamps 9b for
indicating a communication state and an error state, for example,
is provided. The network repeater 9 is also provided with a switch
9c for switching on and off of wireless communication and a switch
9d for enabling or disabling a remote operation, for example.
(Configuration of Compartment of Network Repeater)
A configuration of a compartment of the network repeater of the
indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention in a state in which the front panel is removed. FIG. 5 is
a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air-conditioning
apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention at an
opening formed on the wall of the housing. FIG. 6 is an exploded
perspective view of the indoor unit of the air-conditioning
apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in a
state in which the front panel and the wall of the housing are
removed. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the network repeater 9 is not shown.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, the opening 22 is formed on the
wall 21 of the housing 7. On a rear side of the wall 21, the
electrical component compartment member 6 is disposed. On the
electrical component compartment member 6, a network repeater
compartment 31 having a box shape with a front side open is formed.
The opening 22 is formed at a position faced with an opening of the
network repeater compartment 31. The network repeater 9 is
contained in a space 32 inside the network repeater compartment 31.
Specifically, the opening 22 leads to a front end of the space 32
in which the network repeater 9 is contained.
Moreover, on the electrical component compartment member 6, a
control board compartment 33 having a box shape with a front side
open is formed. In the control board compartment 33, the control
board 10 is contained. The control board compartment 33 is covered
with a control board compartment cover 34. The control board
compartment cover 34 is capable of being removed.
In other words, by removing the front panel 8, the wall 21 of the
housing 7, and the control board compartment cover 34 of the
electrical component compartment member 6 of the indoor unit 100 of
the air-conditioning apparatus, the cable 9a extending from the
network repeater 9 can be connected to the control board 10.
Removal of the wall 21 of the housing 7 and the control board
compartment cover 34 of the electrical component compartment member
6 may or may not be capable of being performed by the user.
FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of essential parts of the
indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention in a state in which the front
panel, the wall of the housing, and the control board compartment
cover of the electrical component compartment member are removed.
FIG. 7 illustrates a state before the cable 9a of the network
repeater 9 is wired, and FIG. 8 illustrates a state after the cable
9a of the network repeater 9 is wired.
As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, at a position close to the control
board compartment 33 in a peripheral wall of the network repeater
compartment 31, a groove 31a in which a front side is open is
formed. The opening of the groove 31a is covered with the wall 21
of the housing 7. Moreover, at a position located between the
network repeater compartment 31 and the control board compartment
33 of the electrical component compartment member 6, a cable fixing
member fixing portion 35 for attaching a cable fixing member 11 is
formed. The cable fixing member 11 is a cable tie, and the cable
fixing member fixing portion 35 is a hole, for example. Moreover,
below the network repeater compartment 31 of the electrical
component compartment member 6, a cable compartment space 36 is
formed.
The cable 9a extending from the network repeater 9 is wired to pass
inside the groove 31a and to reach the cable compartment space 36.
Moreover, a middle portion of the cable 9a is fixed by the cable
fixing member 11 attached at the cable fixing member fixing portion
35. Moreover, a tip end of the cable 9a is connected to the control
board 10. After a portion of the cable 9a between a section fixed
by the cable fixing member 11 and the network repeater 9 is
contained in the cable compartment space 36 in a state in which a
sufficient extra length remains, the wall 21 of the housing 7 is
installed. In other words, the cable 9a has a length sufficient for
drawing out the network repeater 9 contained in the space 32
through the opening 22 formed in the wall 21 of the housing 7, and
a portion of the cable 9a between the section fixed by the cable
fixing member 11 and the network repeater 9 has a length sufficient
for drawing out the network repeater 9 contained in the space 32
through the opening 22 formed in the wall 21 of the housing 7.
The cable fixing member fixing portion 35 may be formed in the
network repeater compartment 31. In other words, the cable fixing
member 11 may fix a portion of the cable 9a between a section
located inside the groove 31 a and the network repeater 9 and in
such a case, it is only necessary that the cable compartment space
36 is formed inside the network repeater compartment 31.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an essential part of the indoor
unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of
the present invention in a state in which the front panel is
removed.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, a cutout 22a is formed in each of regions
facing each other on a peripheral edge of the opening 22 in the
wall 21 of the housing 7. Moreover, at a position corresponding to
the cutout 22a on the peripheral wall of the network repeater
compartment 31 of the electrical component compartment member 6, a
stepped portion 31b is formed. The user can put fingers into the
cutouts 22a and the stepped portions 31b and hold the network
repeater 9. FIG. 9 illustrates a case in which the cutouts 22a and
the stepped portions 31b are formed in the vertical direction of
the network repeater 9; however the configuration is not limited to
this case. For example, the cutout 22a and the stepped portion 31b
may be formed in the horizontal direction of the network repeater
9.
<Action of Indoor Unit of Air-Conditioning Apparatus>
An action of the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 1 will be described.
In the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus, in the
region covered with the front panel 8 of the wall 21 of the housing
7, the opening 22 leading to the front end of the space 32 in which
the network repeater 9 for wirelessly communicating with the
network is contained is formed, and the opening 22 is exposed in
the state in which the front panel 8 is removed. Thus, the interior
aesthetics can be improved by incorporating the network repeater 9
in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus. Moreover,
the network repeater 9 incorporated in the indoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus can be taken out of the indoor unit 100
of the air-conditioning apparatus for visual check and operations
as necessary, ensuring the functionality.
Moreover, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus,
the control board 10 and the network repeater 9 are connected by
the cable 9a disposed on the rear side of the wall 21 of the
housing 7, and the cable 9a has a length sufficient for drawing out
the network repeater 9 contained in the space 32 through the
opening 22. Thus, when the network repeater 9 is to be taken out of
the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus, removal of
the cable 9a from the control board 10, application of a load to a
connection portion of the cable 9a connected with the control board
10, and the like are suppressed, and usability for the user is
improved.
Moreover, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus,
the middle portion of the cable 9a is fixed by the cable fixing
member 11, and the portion of the cable 9a between the section
fixed by the cable fixing member 11 and the network repeater 9 has
a length sufficient for drawing out the network repeater 9
contained in the space 32 through the opening 22. Thus, when the
network repeater 9 is to be taken out of the indoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus, the removal of the cable 9a from the
control board 10, the application of a load to a connection portion
of the cable 9a connecting with the control board 10, and the like
are further suppressed, and the usability for the user is further
improved.
Moreover, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus,
the cutout 22a is formed in each of the regions facing each other
on the peripheral edge of the opening 22. Thus, when the network
repeater 9 is to be taken out of the indoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus, the network repeater 9 can be held by
the fingers, and the usability for the user is improved.
<Variation>
The above describes a case in which the network repeater 9 is
contained in the space 32 in a state in which the surface on which
the indication lamps 9b and the switches 9c and 9d are not disposed
is located on the opening 22 side; however, the network repeater 9
may be contained in the space 32 in a state in which the surface on
which the indication lamps 9b and the switches 9c and 9d are
disposed is located on the opening 22 side. In such a case, the
visual check, the operation and the like can be performed without
taking out the network repeater 9 from the indoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus and thus, the usability for the user is
improved. Moreover, a case in which the indication lamps 9b and the
switches 9c and 9d are disposed on the front of the network
repeater 9 is described; however, the indication lamps 9b and the
switches 9c and 9d may be disposed on a surface other than the
front of the network repeater 9.
The above describes a case in which the front panel 8 covers a
whole front of the housing 7; however, the front panel 8 may cover
a part of the housing 7 and it is only necessary that at least the
region where the opening 22 of the wall 21 is formed is covered.
Moreover, a case in which the opening 22 formed in the wall 21 of
the housing 7 is exposed by removing the front panel 8 is
described; however, the opening 22 formed in the wall 21 of the
housing 7 may be exposed by removing a part of the front panel 8,
or the opening 22 formed in the wall 21 of the housing 7 may be
exposed by automatically or manually opening of the whole or a part
of the front panel 8.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
1 base 2 fan 3 heat exchanger 4 drain pan assembly 4a vertical wind
direction adjustment plate 5 filter automatic cleaning unit 6
electrical component compartment member 7 housing 8 front panel 9
network repeater 9a cable 9b indication lamp 9c, 9d switch 10
control board 11 cable fixing member 21 wall 22 opening 22a cutout
31 network repeater compartment 31a groove 31b stepped portion
32 space 33 control board compartment 34 control board compartment
cover 35 cable fixing member fixing portion 36 cable compartment
space
100 indoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus
* * * * *